Isaiah 44:9-20

New International Version

⁹ All who make idols^(A) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.^(B)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;^(C)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.^(D)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,^(E)
    which can profit nothing?^(F)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;^(G)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.^(H)

¹² The blacksmith^(I) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.^(J)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.^(K)
13 The carpenter^(L) measures with a line
    and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
    and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,^(M)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.^(N)
14 He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,^(O) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵ It is used as fuel^(P) for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships^(Q) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(R) down to it.
¹⁶ Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.^(S)”
¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(T)
He prays^(U) to it and says,
    “Save^(V) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸ They know nothing, they understand^(W) nothing;
    their eyes^(X) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
¹⁹ No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding^(Y) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(Z)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(AA) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(AB)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;^(AC) a deluded^(AD) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(AE)”